Toy animal



(No Model.)

S. M. BUTLER.

TOY ANIMAL.

Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

N. PEI'ERS. Phmo-Lilhngnpher, Washingwn. oc.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SARAH M. BUTLER, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOY ANIMAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,436, dated November 3,1885.

Application filed February 9, 1885. Serial No. 155,395.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SARAH M. BUTLER, of Haverhill, county of Essex, State of .Massa chusetts, have invented an Improvement in Toy Animals, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the reproduction of forms of animals from fibrous material, preferably worsted yarn, the ends of short lengths thereof, held securely together at or near the center of the body, serving as the exterior of the body.

My invention consists, essentially, of a toy animal having a body composed of short lengths of thread or yarn caught together at or near the center of the body, leaving the free ends of the thread or yarn exposed to the eye, and of an attached head, also composed of short lengths of thread or yarn connected together centrally and trimmed to shape, and of stiffened legs, as will be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents a toy animal embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an under side View thereof; Fig. 3, a section of Fig. 1 in the dotted line as m. Fig. 4 represents a mass of yarn wound into a bunch and tied preparatory to forming the body of the animal; Fig. 5, a wound mass of yarn for the head of the animal. Fig. 6 represents the leg-forming material; Fig. 7, the same bent as for the legs of a fowl, and Fig. 8 the beak and its connecting device.

In the present instance I have shown my invention embodied in a fowl. The thread or yarn-preferably worsted yarn or a mixture of yarn and silk of the same or different colors, two or more colors being employed if it is desired to show spots-is first wound over two sticks, 64 a, or it might be the fingers, and is securely tied at or near its center by a thread or wire, I), and a sufficient quantity of the wound mass is taken therefrom according to the length of the body, the diameter or thickness of the body being provided for by placing the sticks a a a greater or less distance apart. The massof yarn so tied together centrally is then cut at each side in the dotted line a: 00 Fig. 4, to divide theloops each side the point where the yarn is tied, and the free (No model.)

ends of the short lengths of yarn so formed are brushed apart, and the yarn is made to assume a more or less cylindrical shape, the yarn or wire b being thereby concealed. The mass of yarn for the body is then cut and trimmed by shears, while the body is made to represent in shape that of the animal to be reproduced or imitated. The mass of yarn a, wound on sticks c c and tied at c" for the production of the head of the animal, is cut at its edge in like manner, and is connected to the body by thread or wire, and the head part is then trimmed into shape.

In the drawings, B is the body, and H the head.

In the case of a fowl having tail-feathers a loop of yarn tied at one side is attachedto the body, as at T. Beads 6 will be used for the eyes, and the comb e of the fowl may be imitated by red yarn or silk manipulated by a needle, or may be made from flannel. To give to the animal the necessary strength of limb, the central part thereof is of wire. In the present instance the legs Z, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) those suitable for a fowl, are made from wire twisted and looped in the form shown at Fig. 6, and loops being left to form toes t, the wire being wound with worsted or silk, as desired. The legforming wire is bent centrally at 2, and then again between its central bend and extremities, as shown at 3 in Fig. 7, and the portion of the wire between the first and second bends, 2 3, is laid against the body, (see Fig. 2,) and secured by thread, the portions of the legs placed in contact with the body for some distance enabling the body to be steadied, poised, and balanced to suit.

In case it should be desired to produce the figure of alamb or a cat, the legs may be made of other shape-as, for instance, the central wire of the leg may serve to hold short lengths of yarn, the same as used for the head, and the yarn so collected for a length sufficient for a leg may be trimmed into shape. The beak f, composed, as herein shown, of astiff triangular piece of paper, is attached to the head by a strand, 9, of thread, or otherwise inserted into the head and body, and confined therein by bending the wire.

Fig. 3 shows the central fastening for the short lengths of yarn of which the body is composed.

I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a chicken; but it will be understood from the foregoing that animals of other form may be imitatedas, for instance, mice, rats, dogs, sheep, swine, &c.so I do not intend to limit my invention to fowl alone.

I am aware that pieces of cloth have been cut out and sewed together to resemble animals, and I am also aware that dolls and Eng ures of animals have been produced by crocheting.

I claim l. A toy animal having a body composed of thread or yarn in short lengths, but connected together at or near the center of the body, the free ends of the yarn being exposed to form the exterior or visible part of the body, and of an attached head composed of short lengths of thread or yarn connected together centrally and trimmed to shape, and of stiffened legs, substantially as described.

2. A toy animal having abody composed of thread or yarn in short lengths, butconnected together at or near the center of the body, the free ends of the yarn being exposed to form the exterior or visible part of the body, and provided with legs stiffened with Wire and laid against the body for part of their length, substantially as described.

3. The head H, having a beak connected therewith by a strand, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SARAH M. BUTLER.

I Witnesses:

NETTIE WILLIAMS, H. W. BUTLER. 

